Oh, Jesus. There's a little kid. Yep. Hey, buddy. >> At nearly 3:00 in the morning, a neighbor heard two small children crying inside this Flint Township home and made a call that may have changed their lives. When officers entered, they found the children alone. There was no parent answering the door, no adult waiting inside, and no clear explanation for how long the boys had been on their own. But as officers moved through the home, the case became more than a late-night welfare check. It became an investigation into what the children had been living through, where their mother had gone, and why nobody had come back for them. >> It's going to be for a general evaluation of two 3-year-old children. >> They usually have a ton of packages on the porch. So, somebody must have got one maybe yesterday, and it was at noon, right? And I'm thinking, well, maybe there's somebody in there. And I waved to him, and he was drinking a sippy cup. And then um So, I'm sleeping good, and I hear like it's a I don't know. It's It sound like he was in a space, and he was pounding or something. >> The call came from a neighbor who was concerned about what they could hear coming from inside the home. It was late. The children appeared to be alone, and the situation was serious enough that Flint Township police were sent to check immediately. When officers arrived, the first problem was gaining access. >> Ain't nobody in there, but there's water running. >> What's your time on 25? >> Yeah, 6:30. There's water running. That's probably what they're hearing. >> Man, I'm waiting for box. >> The water running, not a kid crying. >> Checking the box. 25, 13, or 17, checking your status. >> 17 outside. Come over here. I the water. The water's running from I can't see where it is. >> Well, it's dripping out of this table. You can see it. The water drops. >> Here. Here. Stand where I'm standing. >> Oh, yeah. You It's like a water leak. I wonder if it's coming from the ceiling. >> I'd hate to live in that house. I thought it got a lot drier. >> Yeah, it's It sounds like it's coming from like the ceiling like though. >> It look like the roof fell out and leaking down in there. >> I ain't going to lie. >> But why in a single story you running your water up top? >> Could be coming from the kitchen sink or something. Oh, I >> The stove light's on. >> It's like they're trying to destroy this place. >> Officers checked the entry points and began treating the call as an urgent welfare concern. This is an important moment in any police response involving children. Officers do not yet know whether a parent is nearby, whether there is a medical emergency, or whether someone may still be in danger inside. Their first responsibility is to locate the children, make sure they are safe, and determine whether they need medical care. >> With all due respect, is there anyone in here? Oh, Jesus. There's a little kid. >> Is there? >> Yep. Hey, buddy. Kid's back here in the bathroom. Check that other room. >> Check. Clear. >> I got a kid down in here. >> I got a kid back here. >> Are they okay? >> No, please stay. >> Officers found two young children with special needs inside the home. The children were alive, but police described the environment as unsafe and severely neglected. The boys needed immediate help and the search for their mother began. >> Hey, buddy. Hey. Hi. Hey. >> What the >> This is Jesus, where you at? Where you at? We got two kids. One's completely naked and the other one's covered in [ __ ] I'm getting a couple uh safety blankets so we can get them wrapped up in the cars. Let's get one coming to check them out. >> Hey, buddy. Come here. Hey. >> Hey, buddy. Where's Mommy and Daddy at? >> There you go. >> 1707, yeah. Can you start this way? >> 17, uh what is the number of occupants found on pages? >> Just got two small children inside. Approximately >> We're on >> Three and one. >> Probably four. >> Three and four. >> As officers moved from room to room, they documented what they found. Extensive clutter, spoiled food, and conditions that made it difficult to move safely through parts of the home. The officers concern was not about whether the house looked untidy. Their concern was whether two young children had been left without the food, supervision, sanitation, and care they needed. >> Hey buddy. Hey. Hey big guy. You want to come out here for me? Hey. >> [clears throat] >> Are you okay, man? How long has it been since you saw mommy or daddy? Are you able to talk to me? Try to keep that shut a little bit so we're not drafting them. It's okay, buddy. We're going to get you in a warm car, all right? Can you do this for me? We're going to get you a blanket to cover up in two. All right. Hey. Hey, buddy. Hey. Hey. Do you see my partner over there? Hey. >> I'm going to bring him over there. Don't worry. All right, buddy. Hey, come here. I'm going to take you over to my partner, okay? You're okay. It's okay. >> [crying] >> It's okay. Chase, you ready? Oh my god. Hey, buddy. Come here. Come here. Hey, big guy. Come on. Come on. I need you to be a big boy for me, okay? What's that? >> Where's the dog? >> Okay. Did you have a second one? >> Yeah. >> Where did Did it fall over there? All right, let's just get him in the back seat where it's warm. >> Okay. >> So that door was open. So there potentially could be something or someone out here, too. Oh, that's where the kid got the ground beef from that he was eating. Be careful when we get to the back bedrooms. They were rubbing their own all over the walls. Maybe look for a smaller kid cuz there's not a lot of room on this high chair. >> Okay. >> I mean, they both look pretty >> Do we know anything about Have we talked to the lady other caller yet to figure out how long these kids might have been alone in here? >> So I got her ID. She said that she thought the people were moving out. It was unoccupied. I just want to make sure there's no more kids in here before we go any further. There's litter written on those walls, so be careful. So far, not that we can tell. They're just nonverbal. Yeah, I want to check that mattress. We haven't checked underneath it. Are you able to keep this tilted up and I'll lift the mattress? Do your kids are getting checked up by EMS right now? Can you see underneath of those things? Okay. Yeah, for days. I had Shelly check. There's There was one person registered. I didn't hear their name. I just lifted it. Yeah. >> We're checking in here, guys. You guys can check the other rooms. >> Nothing in here. >> Anything with full names, anything on there? >> There's two Amazon packages with the name Crystal on it. >> While officers worked to protect the children, investigators needed to find their mother, Crystal Farmer. Early reporting said police believed the children may have been left alone for days. That allegation became central to the case because the children had special needs and required adult supervision. >> What is it? Look. >> You okay? >> Wait, I'll get it. Oh, no. I just I can't because I was chewing my gum at the same time. >> She's easier to get this room? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Can you check the kitchen, all right? >> I checked dishwasher, fridges, all Then we checked the garage. I didn't see anything. >> to get a hold of management. Um he dropped Can you get a hold of the lady that called see if she has a number for um management and see if we can get them over here in the morning. Just for the sake of >> Well, this is a condo. >> Yeah, but don't they have some type of property manager or are they all independently owned? >> They're all independently owned. >> Are they? >> This one says Crystal, too. Yeah, one says Crystal, too. Like I said, there's a package of warm ground beef in the uh freezer out in the garage and that's what the one was eating when I walked in here. She's 2140 right next door. I got her phone number and everything. >> She's 2140. Here. You like these? Which one you want? You like that one? That one's a cool one, isn't it? That's a cool one, isn't it? Yeah? You want to give this to your brother? You want to give that one to him? Here. You want this? That's a cool one. Here. You want that one? He got one. Here. Here. >> The Foot Township has a commercial alarm at Clover Street Apartments. >> Give them the blanket. All right. Here. You want that? I'll get you a blanket. You want to take that? Here you go. You want that? Here, buddy. You want to hold on to that for him? Yeah? Here, you want that? You want to rub it on the other one? Maybe. Here, you want that? You want to hold on to it for him? There you go. You doing good. Can I have a high five? You have You like high fives. What's your name? Yeah? You want a blanket? Briggs here. I worked EMS in this point for 7 years and this is one of the worst ones I've seen. >> Like that diaper has definitely been on there for a while. Like I wouldn't be surprised if they have infections. >> Yeah. I mean >> Does anything hurt here? Do you feel okay? Yeah, nothing hurts. >> As soon as I woke up he walked right up to me and >> Yeah. >> He's walking up to me and I said, "Okay, I'm here with you. I'm not going to leave you." You like stickers? I got a bunch of stickers, too. You get all your bears? Is this a blanket? You got a blanket. It's soft. >> Here. >> Here you go. >> Here you go. >> Good job. >> 2205 Pennsylvania across the road. >> He's the other guy. >> If you had to estimate they're about >> 2807 >> three-ish? >> Yeah, this one's obviously a little older than that one, but I'd say probably three years old. Yeah. >> Do you have a neighbor by with a phone number? Do you want me to give her give you her phone number and maybe she knows the parents' names? >> I don't see any like obvious injuries. I mean, in terms of like weight, they don't look >> They don't. >> like malnourished. >> There's like bruises on the right arm. >> On his So, he's got >> Just stay with you. It's okay. >> I don't see any bruises anywhere else. >> The Genesee County Prosecutor's Office ultimately authorized seven felony charges against Crystal Farmer. Those charges included two counts of child abandonment, two counts of second-degree child committed in the presence of another child, and one count of lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation. >> Do you believe Do you have to investigate it, all right? And obviously So, until we can we can work through this, you're the one as their mother, you're the one who's responsible for taking care of them kids. And we we work in Flint. We work at Genesee County. So, we go in a lot of really bad situations. And this is it was it was one of the worst we've ever been in. Um so, these officers here are going to take you you've got to go to jail for the child child neglect, child Okay? Until we can work through work through some of your story, all right? So, we're going to we have about 48 hours to get you charged and then 72 hours to get you arraigned, okay? >> Put your hands behind your back. I'll put it over your shoulders. Go and turn around. >> Do you want me >> I have the paperwork? >> No, not in the hospital. Put your hands behind your back. And then I think the CPS is might have a couple more things they need to do for your procedure, but they'll be able to come see you down at the jail, okay? >> Okay. >> Um and then probably while we're working through working through some of the stories with the other witnesses, they'll probably revoke some of your jail up home call privileges down at the the county jail as well. Okay. Do you have any questions before we >> Will you call my dad? >> Yeah, probably. We tried to talk to him when we couldn't find you and we found your kids eating poop and meat, but he didn't answer the door. >> The one thing that he told me is >> That's not him. >> He's in Florida? Okay. Is his phone number the same it's always been? >> This case began with children crying inside a home and a neighbor who chose to make one call. It led to a police investigation, seven felony charges, and guilty pleas entered months later. As of September 27th, 2026, Crystal Farmer has pleaded guilty to all seven charges. Sentencing is scheduled for October 19th, 2026. We will update this case if the court issues a final sentence.